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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Well, it’s been an interesting start to summer here! The first half of the month was chilly and rainy; now it’s hot as can be! We had weeks with the kids at camp and weeks with them home. We have had a lot to celebrate! Here are some of the highlights.

Monday, June 29, 2015

This month I received my 20th Ipsy Glam Bag. This month’s theme was “Swim Into Beauty.” Here is what I received:

Dr. Brandt Skincare pores no more vacuum cleaner – $45 for 1 oz, I received .2 oz, a value of $9:This gentle exfoliating mask helps loosen and extract blackheads without painful extraction tools while absorbing oil and tightening pores. 25% off with code VACUUM25 until 7/31/15.My thoughts: Lucky for me, I don’t really have blackheads! I did try this but I’m not sure I needed it!

Pure Brazilian Miracle Leave-In Conditioner – $6:An ultra-reparative Keratin infused conditioner that re-constructs dry damaged hair by restoring keratin proteins that have been depleted by chronological aging, styling, chemical and environmental damage. 25% off with code IPSY until 7/31/15.My thoughts: I just had a keratin treatment done and this should be great to keep my hair smooth. I tried it before the treatment and it worked as a detangler as well.

Absolute Nail Lacquer in Turquoise – $5:This chip-resistant and high-shine Nail Lacquer is designed to deliver luxuriously rich and vibrant color.20% off with code IPSY until 7/31/15.My thoughts: I can’t wait to use this!

Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer – $36 for 1 oz, I received .25 oz, a value of $9:Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea. Worn alone or under foundation, this best-selling, oil-free primer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety-smooth finish.My thoughts: I keep forgetting to put this on before my cream foundation, but I did put it on my eyelids and it seemed to work well!

tre’StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine – $32 for 3 mini sticks, I received 1, a value of $10.66:This amazing 12 hour eye shadow has customizable color that you can build from a subtle wash to intense vibrancy. It’s also super blendable with a crease free, smooth finish.15% off and free shipping with code IPSYINSIDER15 until 7/31/15.My thoughts: The cap is so cute! I thought it had arrived open at first, but then realized that the cap is shaped like the crayon inside. I wish I received the gold color, but I like this shadow. It goes on more like a shadow than I expected it to, and then I just blend it in!

Once again, I pay $10 a month for these bags. I love seeing what comes my way each month! The value received this month was $39.66, which is a lower value than I received last month. My favorite item this month is the eye shadow.

If you’d like to sign up to receive your own Glam Bag each month, click here! If you got this month’s bag, what did you think?

Friday, June 26, 2015

Also on my to be read list was Good Kings Bad Kings by Susan Nussbaum. Told from multiple viewpoints, the author managed to create several unique voices that were all engaging and entertaining to read. “Bellwether Award winner Susan Nussbaum’s powerful novel invites us into the lives of a group of typical teenagers—alienated, funny, yearning for autonomy—except that they live in an institution for juveniles with disabilities. This unfamiliar, isolated landscape is much the same as the world outside: friendships are forged, trust is built, love affairs are kindled, and rules are broken. But those who call it home have little or no control over their fate. Good Kings Bad Kings challenges our definitions of what it means to be disabled in a story told with remarkable authenticity and in voices that resound with humor and spirit.” The characters range from a wheelchair using teenage girl whose caregiver passed away, a boy who has a supportive father but still resides in the home and loves one of the other residents who he does not realize has been severely abused, the secretary who was hired because she too is in a wheelchair and who is active in the quest for rights for the disabled, and her boyfriend, who may be the only care staff member who actually cares emotionally about the kids. Having worked in the past with disabled kids, it touched me to read about the lack of care that sometimes occurred, as well as the unfair punishment that some of the kids received. Seeing what happens to these kids as a result of the good care and the bad care that they receive is touching, heartbreaking, and moving. Anyone who works with disabled kids as well as anyone who cares about disadvantaged people should read this book.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

For the second year, Zachary attended Cub Scout Camp for a week. It is a day camp and parents have to attend with their Cub on at least one of the days! Even though I was worried about keeping the boys entertained between activities, on my day we were assigned to activities that took up time and did not leave us with too much down time! The camp site was very nice and even though it was a very hot day, it was nice and cool in the shade. Zachary doesn’t always love boyish things like shooting and sports, but he really seems to enjoy Cub Scout Camp!

The entrance to our pack area.

Getting instructions for the ropes course.

On a parachute break from the ropes course:

BB Gun shooting – Zachary even hit the bullseye!

Every day after lunch, they had a surprise. We got to see a real knight demonstration.

Next up was the rock wall. Here the boys are warming up!

Zachary’s turn.

Ringing the bell when he got to the center (it was a traverse wall).

Finally – Zachary did not want me to take a picture but he did want to hit me with a sword!

Other activities throughout the week included Archery, Slingshots, Fishing, and more! Cub Scout camp gets called off for storms – and even though we have had non-stop rain and storms this summer, they made it through the whole week without having to call off camp!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

On our third day of Summer Break, we visited a museum that I came across on a list of 33 Free Things To Do In Kansas City, The Children’s Peace Pavilion. I had heard of it back when we first moved here, but we had never visited. Located inside the church auditorium building in Independence, MO, the museum is an “interactive children’s museum designed to teach the concepts of peace through creative, fun, child-centered learning activities. Every element in the museum is designed to empower children to incorporate peacemaking skills into their everyday lives.” There are four sections – Peace for Me, Peace for Us, Peace for Everyone, and Peace for the Planet – with a total of over 25 interactive exhibits throughout. Check the website for hours, because it is not always open, but it is apparently not very well-known, as we were the only people there!

Learning about nutrition at the Healthy Body exhibit.

Drawing.

We worked together to set up these people dominoes and then sent them all tumbling down – after accidentally knocking a few down too soon! This exhibit is called Humano Harambe.

We watched a video about conflict resolution and the kids put on a puppet show to go with it.

The kids enjoyed playing school in this area that also included information about food, water, and housing in the Philippines.

Hi there!

As a mom to 3, I try to teach my kids that every day can be an adventure! I always tell them that things can be fun if they make them fun. This is where I document it all. I love travel, photography, reading, writing, & spending time with my family!